Buffy Fish-Owl
NameBuffy Fish-Owl
Common NameBuffy Fish-Owl
Scientific NameKetupa ketupu
FamilyStrigidae
Wingspan (cm)107
Length (cm)45
Weight (g)1500
Plumage DetailsOverall buffy-brown with heavy dark brown streaking on the underparts. The upperparts are darker brown with buff mottling. It has prominent, shaggy ear tufts and bright yellow eyes. Its tarsi (legs) are unfeathered, a common adaptation for fish-eating owls.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include a deep, hooting 'hoo-hoo-hoo' or a series of low, guttural hoots and growls. It can also produce a distinctive 'whoop-whoop-whoop' call.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatsforest, wetland, coastal
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound across Southeast Asia, from parts of India and Bangladesh through Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, and the Philippines.
Identifying FeaturesProminent shaggy ear tufts, Buffy-brown plumage with dark streaking, Yellow eyes, Unfeathered tarsi, Associated with water bodies
Description
The Buffy Fish-Owl is a medium-sized owl characterized by its prominent, shaggy ear tufts and buffy-brown plumage with heavy dark streaking. It is typically found near water bodies in forested areas, where it hunts fish and other aquatic prey, often at night.
